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Curiosities of ancient Rome
The world of ancient Romans abounded in a number of amazing curiosities and information. The source of knowledge about the life of the Romans are mainly works left to us by ancient writers or discoveries. The Romans left behind a lot of strange information and facts that are sometimes hard to believe.
Roman vase and quadriga
Roman vase from Colchester, showing charioteer racing his quadriga.
Famous centurion stick
The famous centurion stick – vitis, a sign of function, a punishment tool. It was made of vine wood, and it was implemented during the Punic wars. It was about 0,9 meters long. Tacitus mentions that one of the centurions received the nickname Cedo Alteram (“give me another”), because of the continuous breaking of the stick.
Cave canem!
The mosaics placed in front of the entrances to the houses of the rich Romans had inscriptions Cave canem! (“Beware of the dog”). These are the equivalents of the fence plates we meet today.
Romans did surgery to remove kidney stone
Ancient Romans performed kidney stone surgery. This was described by Aulus Cornelius Celsus in his treatise “De medeicina”. He described there lithotripsy – crushing kidney and ureter stones.
Body cast of pig in Boscoreale
A plaster cast of the body of a pig that was one of the victims of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The object was found at Villa Regina in Boscoreale (Pompeii area). Currently, the object is housed in a museum in Boscoreale.
Roman gold statuette of Faustina
Roman gold statuette probably of Faustina the Elder – wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius – who was deified after death. Object dated to the II century CE.
